RECAP - Danny and Alice had a little moment discussing their past when Rosie walked in and began demanding answers, after talking a little while Alice finally declared that Rosie couldn't be her child because she had a son. Rosie calmed down but Alice was too emotional to eb able to speak, they went out on the veranda when Alice noticed a fire on her land and had no time to talk anymore. she is now currently fighting the fire….
5 Hours Had Passed - Mara
Danny paced around Vanessa's office uncontrollably. Nomsa and Caroline were sat uncharacteristically quiet on a sofa, their faces the picture of concern for their loved ones. Rosie was sat beside the sofa her back resting against the side, she had tried to distract herself using her phone but it hadn't worked, now she sat her face covered with her hands. The only sound in the room was Danny's pacing and the clock which ticked monotonously. Vanessa and Leon were sat by her desk, she was scribbling on notes while Leon watched Danny. Danny made a sound of annoyance and Rosie looked up at him with concerned eyes.
"Danny I'm getting highway hypnosis watching you go back and forward like that." Leon told him. "If you have to stand can't it be still?"
"How does someone stay still at a time like this?" he practically growled running his hands through his hair. "I can't stand it!" he had zero experience of this, it was him who dealt with the scary stuff, Alice being in the line of fire when he was safe was unthinkable!
Vanessa looked up at him, "Alice will be fine, she has experience with this. This isn't the first fire she's been involved in, granted this one is far bigger….." Vanessa trailed off when she saw this wasn't helping Dannys mood as his eyes narrowed.
"Thanks, that has made me feel much better!" he drawled sarcastically and shook his head. "I have to go there!"
"Danny I thought Alice was your ex." Leon said sitting forward.
Rosie sat up straighter and even Caroline and Nomsa were now taking notice. They too had oticed his concern went far above what someone in his position would feel.
"Just because she is my ex doesn't mean I want her to get hurt! I always promised…." Derek's face flashed in Dannys mind, his eyes finding the scar along the back of his hand when Derek came at him with a knife.
"Last time I checked Alice's safety was her responsibility, unless…." Leon began.
"Unless what?" Danny asked.
"Unless you're still in love with her." Vanessa finished.
Danny halted abruptly, the statement literally stopping him in his tracks. On instinct he analysed his feelings and found that to all around him he was acting like a concerned husband. What he was feeling was just so complicated…..he sighed. "Ok yeah, I love her, a part of me always will she was my first love, I mean we got married! But that was a long time ago, I'm not IN love with her anymore!" proud of his logic.
Leon shook his head, Vanessa shrugged only half believing it. Nomsa and Caroline shared a knowing smile. Rosie meanwhile was lost in thought. Danny however continued to pace, ready to acquire a vehicle and to make sure Alice was…..to see if the fire was under control yet!
Alice stood inside a deep trench breathing heavily. She straightened up wincing as her back protested the movement. She grabbed her water bottle and drained it thirstily then wiped the sweat from her forehead adding more mud to an already soot blackened face, streaks were down her face from sweat.
After fighting the fire she had went on to digging trenches, the fire had skipped right over the last ones. She looked around and Saw Dupe heading towards the truck which had the water, she made sure to have him in her sight. This was by far the worst fire she had seen since she moved here and having him close made her feel calmer about this to be honest this was scaring her to death! Everything around her was going up like it was nothing. Dupe caught her looking at him and nodded, if possible he was covered in more mud and soot that she was! He waved her over so she handed someone her shovel, climbed out of the trench and walked towards him. When she saw him she saw the raw truth is his weary eyes. "This is bad then." she told him, not a question but a statement.
He rubbed his eyes and scratched his head, "The worst fire in Leopards Den in 150 years, I'll have to check the records to be sure."
"Are the firefighters still on Mara's side?"
He nodded. "I've been on the radio and its more or less under control, it looks like it originated there too. The wind sent it our way. More engines were requested but…." and trailed off.
Alice nodded and grabbed another bottle of water, "We're gonna need more water soon."
"And a miracle." Dupe added.
Alice had raised the bottle to her lips looked at him, he looked weary. "Go home, have a rest, we can handle it."
He raised his eyebrows, "Would you?"
Alice smiled and shook her head.
"I'm ok." he told her, "But I see this and I realise that I'm not as young as I used to be and I won't be able to do this much longer."
"Hey!" she nudged him. "There's life in you yet! You talk like you have one foot in the grave and the other on a banana skin!"
He shook his head and leant back on the truck looking at the chaos around him.
Alice saw the way his eyes darkened and knew the effect this was having on him, suddenly she felt the weight of everything that had happened, not only to her but now the fire too. "What happened Dupe?" she asked as she watched the people fighting the fire. "It feels like everything here has been so hard recently." Danny's face a prominent fixture in her mind as she said the words. The concern on his face as he had drove away.
Dupe looked at her andread her thoughts, "He's on your mind then?"
A humourless laugh escaped her, "All this going on around me yet all I can think about is him." she shook her head, "I'm so confused right now and then this happens!" she looked at him and smiled. "I just don't have the time for the meltdown I need."
Dupe slung his arm over her shoulder and pulled her close. "When this is all over I'm here for you, tell me it all, shout, scream, swear, meltdown and I'll make sure no one disturbs you."
She laid her head on his shoulder a moment, "Thanks Dupe, I don't tell you enough bur I really appreciate you being here for me and I love you."
"It's what I'm here for, you're the closest thing to a child I'll ever have…." he trailed off.
Alice knew not to make too big a deal out of his words, he wouldn't want that but she was warmed that he thought of her like that. She straightened up and finally took a drink from her bottle. "I'm going to go help fight the fire now."
He nodded, "Be careful."
She nodded.
"I'll get in the radio to Vanessa and have her send more water over."
"Ok." and Alice once again headed into the fray.
Danny was looking out of the window in Vanessa's office, squinting into the distance trying to see smoke. Nomsa, Rosie and Caroline had retreated to a room to take their mind off their worries but Vanessa and Leon were still sat at the desk.
"Danny will you stop torturing yourself, when there is news Dupe will get in touch!" Leon told him exasperated by his friends behaviour.
"Alice is fine." Vanessa added trying to reassure him. "Like Leon says Dupe would be straight on the radio if something happened. He's told me he's keeping a close eye on her."
The old man watching Alice was a small comfort to Danny but it didn't ease his concerns completely, "Alice is a law unto herself Vanessa." he crossed his arms. "She doesn't listen, she's reckless."
Leon was slowly losing all patience, "I repeat why do you care so much? She is nothing to do with you anymore! Didn't she even threaten to shoot you?"
"We've talked, she's different to what I thought. She's the same girl just grown up." he replied without thinking, his whole concentration on peering outside."
"The same as when you were married?" Vanessa probed.
"Yes and no. It's weird I can't explain it." he looked at them. "She has to be ok!"
The radio crackled and Dupes voice came through.
Danny's heart leapt into his throat.
"Vanessa come in." he requested.
Vanessa picked it up, "I'm here Dupe. Its everything ok?" she glanced at Danny and saw how pale and scared he looked.
"We're fine over here we just need more bottled water, can you send some down?"
"Will do Dupe, how about sandwiches too?"
"And whiskey?" Dupe added.
"Later, when this is over you can have all the whiskey you want." Vanessa promised.
"I'll hold you to that!" Dupe laughed. "But yeah the food and water will be great, everyone is tired, dirty and hungry."
"How is Alice?" Vanessa asked knowing the suspense was killing Danny.
"She's doing great!" everyone could hear the pride in his voice. "She's digging trenches and now she's fighting the fire like a pro. She was made to live here!"
"Is she safe though?" she asked seeing that Danny was barely restraining himself from yanking the radio from her hand and asking himself.
"As safe as she can be in a bush fire," there was a loud explosion on the radio. "Look Vanessa I have to go I'm needed….no…..ALICE!" and the line went dead.
Danny was already heading towards the door, Leon got up and grabbed his arm. Danny turned angrily, "I need to get there, did you hear that bang? Did you hear him yell?"
Vanessa stood up, "No, you're a guest, guests don't get involved!"
"My wife is out there!" he shouted.
"EX wife!" Vanessa reminded. "And she'd kill me if I let you go! It won't do you or her any good if you go, it'll only distract her and then someone WILL get hurt!"
"Don't you get it?" he pleaded. "The waiting is driving me insane! I need to see her!"
"Danny you can't mess around in a bush fire, people rarely get second chances and I won't risk her being hurt because of your pride! They're dangerous and she needs to be focused!"
"Look I'll take the water out and come right back. She doesn't have to see me but I need to see her though!"
Vanessa studied him and looked like she was considering it, then she shook her head, "I'm sorry but I can't. Guest safety is priority number one around here and a bush fire isn't safe!"
Danny glared at her and stomped out of the office. Vanessa was immediately on a radio informing her workers that under no circumstances was Danny to be near the supplies truck.
Alice stood in front of the flames, hose in hand aiming it at a flame. It shuddered and flickered suddenly and she felt something tickling her cheek. Acid pooled in her stomach and her heart began to pound. This was really not good! The wind was changing direction directing the fire towards a fresh fuel. "DUPE!" she shouted. "THE WINDS ARE CHANGING!" and she began to back away from the fire. An unexpected gust blew in her direction and the fire seemed to combust around her, an explosion boomed and the sheer force caused her to be thrown backwards.
A moment later she felt hands upon her, "Alice….ALICE!"
She opened her eyes and was looking into Dupes concerned grey eyes. He was pale and panting.
When he saw her eyes opened he exhaled and relief and looked like he was about to cry, "I told you to be careful!" he scolded.
She sat up ignoring the aching in her back, "I need to get back to the fire….the wind is changing."
At her words a breeze blew and Dupe did something he never did, he swore.
"We need firefighters here immediately if it does change rapidly, that gust could only be the beginning."
"You need to get back to Mara!" he ordered.
"Would you?" she asked echoing his earlier sentiment. And she pulled herself to her feet picking up her hose.
"I'll get on the radio then, get the fire brigade over that way….we were getting in control of this thing, if the wind does change…." he trailed off.
She nodded and returned to her foe, determined to extinguish it once and for all!
Danny stood behind a wall watching as men loaded crates of water and sandwiches onto the back of a truck. He was going to go over and ask them to give him a lift down but knew that Vanessa had no doubt told them not to and possibly have him forcibly removed from the area if he tried, so that left him only one other option, subterfuge!
He noticed they had to go in and out of a room to gather more supplies so all he had to do was wait until they were gone and climb in the back….easier said then done as sometimes they were gone moments and other times minutes! He bided his time and when it felt right the men walked inside he ran to the truck almost bound over the boxes and lay under a sheet which was in the back. Now all he had to do was wait, oh and hope they didn't check under this sheet or he was collared!
He waited quietly for half an hour and began to wonder if he had climbed on the wrong truck, then he felt the truck start and the rumble of an engine, vibrations indicating that the vehicle was in motion. The men talked in low tones and Danny smiled inwardly, he felt safe enough to pull the cover off his face, it was hotter than hell under there, sweat was trickling down his face. He peeked up and realised he didn't recognise where he was going and was suddenly relieved that he didn't try to get there under his own steam.
Pretty soon the acrid smell of smoke assaulted his nostrils and the enormity of the situation descended upon him. There was a crackling in the air and people shouting to and fro he pulled the cover back over as the truck came to a stop. He assumed, as he was masked, that the men had climbed from the truck and were unloading their cargo.
He heard a familiar voice and smiled, "Dupe!" he whispered trying to get his attention.
Dupe, who was stood by the vehicle which brought extra supplies heard someone say his name behind his back. He turned and found no one there. "Did you say my name?" he asked one of the drivers.
"No sir." he replied and returned to his work.
Dupe shook it off until he heard it louder. He turned, "Is someone being funny?" he yelped, or was he losing his marbles! As he studied the truck a figure suddenly appeared, Dupe in shock immediately rounded his gun upon him, "Bloody hell!"
Danny's eyes widened when he saw a gun pointed in his face.
Dupe frowned, " Danny? What are you doing here?"
Danny knelt down so he wasn't in Alice line of vision, "I came to see Alice, make sure she is ok. Is she?"
Dupe nodded deciding not to tell him about how she had been hurt during the explosion, "She's fine over there." and pointed to a copse of blackened trees.
Danny looked and saw a flame slowly getting smaller and Alice stood in front of it. A profound sense of relief filled him when he saw her determination. He didn't know it but he was smiling as he quietly watched her as she tackled the flame. When it was doused she motioned someone over. She was so confident, self sufficient, this was the person she became without him! This person was nothing like the girl from his past who used to defer to him for everything, that girl he wanted to protect. This girl didn't need it, she'd grown. This woman could clearly take care of herself…..he felt the stirrings of a long dead attraction. Dupe suddenly lunged across, grabbed his head and pushed it down. "Hide!" he hissed.
Danny knew what he was doing and managed to pull the cover over his head. He heard her voice and listened intently.
"Oh Vanessa sent the water?" there was a rustle, "And sandwiches too? I could kiss her…well if she was less feminine!" there was a rustle of plastic. "We're getting on top of this yeah?" she asked.
"Sure are!" Could be home within the hour god willing!"
"Course we will, I'm here!" she said in jest, her spirits obviously buoyed that they finally getting in control. "I'll get back and send people over to grab some food."
Danny smiled at how much she worried over everyone else.
Dupe echoed Danny's thoughts, "You're a good kid Alice."
"Kid?" Danny heard her laugh and he assumed she took a drink from her water. "I haven't been a kid in years."
"Compared to me you're a kid and you're not willing to let anyone do something that you aren't willing to do yourself."
Alice was quiet a moment, "I've made mistakes in my past, let people protect me, bad things happened because of it. No more. Anyway," she carried on brightly eradicating the previous sadness from her voice, "I'm going to head east, the wind is holding off changing for now, and I know be careful. I always am." then footsteps began retreating. Danny popped his head up from the edge of the truck and watched her as she left. "She doesn't need me." he murmured. "I don't know but I thought she might have."
Dupe sighed, "Fact is Danny Alice doesn't need anyone, she is one of the strongest people I know." well except when it came to Danny, he managed to the one person who turned her into someone she wasn't, but he didn't mention that. "Alice will never need you the way you want her to. What she does need is to let someone in but she will only do it when she wants to."
Danny nodded slowly knowing the girl from his past was a distant memory. It was time he got back to Mara, he wasn't needed here, Alice was more than capable of handling this by herself.
Without warning there was an almighty explosion,
"What the hell?" Dupe declared.
There was a flash of heat and debris started to fly in every direction, it came from above and all sides. Danny ducked as it rained down on him. When it was over he looked around for Alice and saw her running into the thick of it, her concentration intense. She dropped her hose and dragged someone out of the way who was unconscious. When they were safe she retrieved her hose and began spraying the flame. Dupe was shouting into a radio.
As Danny watched Alice he slowly became aware of the faint sound of running water over the din, like a trickling. He assumed it was a hose….except there were none close to him so what? He realised what he was sat upon and a sick feeling began to descend, he hopped down from the back of the truck to look under. His blood ran cold when he saw, just below the gas tank a small puddle, a sharp piece of metal protruding from the tank. If this went up then everyone in the immediate vicinity were in big trouble. Without thinking he stood up, went to the back and began pushing all of the supplies off the back onto the floor.
"Danny?" Dupe shouted.
"Don't let her follow!" Danny ordered grasping the older mans shoulders. "Make sure she is safe!" and motioned to the gasoline. "Get a hose on that asap!"
Dupe nodded his expression grave as he knew what Danny was going to do. "Good luck."
Alice chose that moment to look over at Dupe. She saw Danny talking to him. "Danny?" she shouted frowning. What was he doing here?
Danny ignored her, climbed into the truck, started it and floored the accelerator, taking the truck away from the base.
Dupe motioned someone over with a hose then moved slowly towards Alice. She had already jogged over, "Dupe?"
"He said no Alice, go back to what you were doing. He'll be fine." Dupe retrieved his own hose and was about to help with the diluting of the gasoline puddle when embers from a nearby tree floated across the air and landed in the middle it. The fuel lit with a flash and raced along the trail Danny had left.
Alice's eyes widened as she saw the speed the flame was following, "No," she whispered, "NO DANNY!" she shouted and was about to race after him. Dupe grasped her by the shoulders to stop her.
She pulled away and was about to run when he wrapped his arm around her waist from behind holding her back. "No Alice!" he told her talking into the radio with his free hand.
People were converging around to fight this new fire but Alice didn't see it, all she knew was that she needed to get to Danny, he might be hurt…a fire engine screamed past, sirens blaring, and above that echoed a massive explosion... then all was quiet.
Alice stopped fighting and just stared vacantly into the distance in absolute shock.
A/N Vanessa warned Danny that someone would get hurt but the man refuses to listen! is he hurt? How will Alice cope with this new development? Keep reading :) x